I’d forgotten what whirlwinds kittens are. We’ve had Perkins in the bathtub, Perkins in the sink, Perkins in the washing machine (that was a close call), Perkins tinkling the ivories on the piano… all often within the same half hour.

Originally posted on Rebecca Alasdair: ? ? Mental illness is one of the most pressing health concerns of the modern age. Even a cursory internet search will reveal some truly horrifying statistics, especially in the…

NOW

She sits beside me on the sofa, close but not quite touching. Her hand rests, clenched, on her knee, inches from my own. I daren’t reach for it because I know she’ll flinch. The lights from the TV illuminate her face and flash like fireworks in the darkness of her eyes, reminding me of another place, different lights. I lean back so I can watch her without her knowing.

We’ve only been officially seeing each other for a few weeks and I’m trying my best to act cool about it. It’s incredibly difficult. She sets off explosive charges inside me with just one look. My heart is constantly stuck in my throat. Every rare smile I win from her is a small victory.